Search Results (230,143)

Ensuring the structural integrity and service reliability of railway wheels has become a key challenge in modern manufacturing and maintenance strategies within the railway sector. In this context, Eddy Current (EC)-based Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) provides an automated and efficient approach for detecting surface and near-surface defects, while reducing inspection time and operator dependency compared to conventional manual methods. This study presents the integration of an EC inspection system into a precision lathe, enabling in-machining evaluation during wheel turning. Experimental validation was conducted on wheels with artificial defects, yielding high signal-to-noise ratios and enabling reliable defect characterization. Furthermore, computationally efficient and easily deployable machine learning algorithms were developed to enable automatic defect detection, localization, and size estimation. The results confirm the feasibility of in-machine EC inspection during machining operations, enabling early defect detection and contributing to safer, more efficient, and higher-quality manufacturing processes in the railway sector. Full article

Microplastic (MP) contamination has become a widespread environmental concern in coastal and freshwater wetlands, ecosystems that play a crucial role in hydrological regulation, nutrient cycling, and biodiversity conservation. Despite their ecological importance, research on MPs in wetlands remains fragmented and comparatively underexplored. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric and visualization analysis of global research on MPs in coastal wetlands. A total of 17,523 publications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (2002–2025) using predefined search strings and screening criteria. Analytical tools, including VOSviewer version 1.6.20, were employed to examine co-authorship networks, country contributions, and keyword co-occurrence patterns. The results indicate a significant increase in MP-related publications after 2016, with China, the United States, and India emerging as leading contributors. However, wetland-specific studies constitute only a small fraction compared to marine-focused MP research, highlighting a substantial research gap. Key research themes identified include MP sources, transport pathways, sediment–water interactions, and ecotoxicological impacts. Additionally, there is growing attention to remediation approaches, particularly those involving TiO₂, ZnO, Fe₃O₄, and graphene derivatives, employing photocatalytic, magnetic, and adsorptive mechanisms. Overall, the findings underscore the limited focus on wetland ecosystems in MP research and emphasize the urgent need for integrated research efforts and management strategies to address MP contamination in these vulnerable ecosystems. Full article

Semantic communications have emerged as a key paradigm for intelligent sixth-generation (6G) wireless networks, which aim to convey the meaning of information rather than accurate bit sequences. However, in open-space low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite links, the broadcast nature and wide beam coverage expose semantic transmissions to severe eavesdropping risks. This paper establishes a unified theoretical and algorithmic framework for secure semantic downlink transmission in satellite networks. In particular, we first develop an integrated mathematical model that couples the semantic representation process, physical-layer satellite propagation characteristics, and information-theoretic secrecy into a single analytical formulation. By defining a joint semantic security cost function, the antagonistic trade-off between semantic fidelity and secrecy capacity is quantitatively characterized under realistic power, beamforming, and propagation constraints. To balance semantic fidelity and information secrecy, a reinforcement-learning-based optimization framework is proposed, wherein an actor–critic agent learns optimal power allocation and semantic weighting strategies through continuous interaction with the environment. This learning-based optimization approach enables autonomous control without requiring explicit channel distribution knowledge or offline parameter tuning. Extended simulation results show that the proposed approach consistently enhances both semantic fidelity and secrecy performance compared with conventional power-control schemes and demonstrate its potential as a foundational architecture for secure and intelligent semantic communications in next-generation satellite networks. Full article

Background and Objectives: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is a key component of the treatment strategy for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), both through its direct impact on oncological prognosis and by increasing the likelihood of sphincter-preserving surgery. Oncological prognosis improves dramatically following a complete pathological response to neoadjuvant therapy. Identifying predictors of response to neoadjuvant therapy has been a challenge over the past two decades, and these factors have not been fully identified. This study aimed to analyze the clinical, biological, and therapeutic factors associated with tumor response following neoadjuvant therapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer, with the aim of identifying independent predictors of the absence of a complete pathological response and optimizing personalized treatment strategies. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included a cohort of 122 patients (81 men and 41 women), with a mean age of 63.5 years, diagnosed with locally advanced rectal cancer at two centers with expertise in colorectal surgery between January 2018 and December 2023. Patients received neoadjuvant treatment in two regimens: long-course chemoradiotherapy with oral radiosensitizing chemotherapy (82 patients) and total neoadjuvant therapy consisting of chemoradiotherapy followed by consolidation chemotherapy (40 patients). A series of clinical, biological, and therapeutic variables was analyzed for their association with pathological responses. Results: According to the Ryan score, the overall complete response rate following neoadjuvant therapy was 17.2%. pCR was observed more frequently in patients treated with total neoadjuvant therapy than in those treated with standard chemoradiotherapy. Elevated pre-treatment CEA levels were independently associated with a higher risk of unfavorable tumor response. The radiation dose and interval between completion of radiotherapy and surgery were significantly associated with tumor regression. Conclusions: These results underscore the importance of personalizing neoadjuvant therapy to improve cancer prognosis. Furthermore, optimizing tumor regression could lead to the potential expansion of sphincter-preserving resection techniques, which would have a direct and significant impact on the quality of life of these patients. Full article

Specialized, Refined, Unique and Novel (SRUN) listed firms are pivotal to the high-quality development of China’s real economy, and their growth quality underpins the security of industrial and supply chains. This study empirically examines the relationship between R&D investment persistence and growth quality of Chinese A-share SRUN listed firms from 2006 to 2024, with technology conversion efficiency as the mediating variable. R&D investment persistence is measured from the dual dimensions of investment intensity and stability, and firm growth quality is a comprehensive indicator constructed via principal component analysis (PCA) from revenue growth, profitability and risk resilience. Panel data regression models, combined with mechanism, endogeneity, robustness and heterogeneity tests, are adopted for empirical analysis. The results show a significantly positive correlation between R&D investment persistence and SRUN firms’ growth quality, with the regression coefficient of R&D investment persistence on growth quality reaching 0.189 (p < 0.01); both investment intensity and stability exert significant positive effects on all dimensions of growth quality, with their regression coefficients on growth quality being 0.156 and 0.132 (both p < 0.01) respectively. Technology conversion efficiency plays a partial mediating role in this relationship, with the mediating effect ratio of R&D investment persistence on growth quality through technology conversion efficiency at 34.2%, as R&D investment persistence indirectly improves growth quality by enhancing patent output and new product conversion efficiency. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that this positive correlation is more pronounced in high-tech industries, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and eastern China-based firms, driven by differences in industrial R&D dependence, resource endowments and financing frictions. Though endogeneity is mitigated by instrumental variables, propensity score matching (PSM) and difference-in-differences (DID), strict causal identification is constrained by data availability. This study enriches the theories of R&D investment and firm growth, and provides empirical insights for SRUN firms to optimize their R&D strategies and for the government to formulate targeted support policies, so as to promote the high-quality development of SRUN firms and the transformation of China’s manufacturing industry. Full article

Background/Objectives: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition increasingly associated with dysregulated neuroimmune signaling and altered neurotrophic homeostasis. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) has been implicated in ASD pathophysiology; however, the downstream effects of TNF-α blockade on cytokine–neurotrophin interactions during neurodevelopment remain insufficiently characterized. In this study, we evaluated the effects of infliximab (IFX), a monoclonal anti-TNF-α antibody, on behavioral performance, neuroinflammatory cytokine profiles, glial activation, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling in a propionic acid (PPA)-induced experimental ASD rat model. Methods: Experimental ASD was induced by propionic acid administration in rats. Animals were divided into control and treatment groups. Behavioral performance was assessed using the Morris Water Maze, direct social interaction, and three-chamber sociability tests. Levels of TNF-α, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and BDNF were measured in serum, hippocampal, and cerebellar tissues. Microglial and astrocytic activation were evaluated using CD11 and GFAP immunohistochemistry. Results: PPA administration resulted in pronounced impairments in learning, memory, and social behaviors, accompanied by elevated proinflammatory cytokine levels, increased BDNF expression, and marked glial activation in the hippocampus and cerebellum. Although IFX treatment significantly reduced TNF-α levels in central tissues, it did not improve behavioral deficits and was associated with persistently elevated IL-1β and IL-6 levels, sustained glial reactivity, and further alterations in BDNF levels. Conclusions: These findings suggest that TNF-α suppression alone does not normalize the disrupted cytokine–neurotrophin axis and may differentially modulate BDNF-related neuroplastic signaling during development. In conclusion, this study indicates that non-selective TNF-α blockade during neurodevelopment fails to confer behavioral benefit in experimental ASD and highlights the importance of considering cytokine–BDNF pathway interactions when designing immunomodulatory strategies for neurodevelopmental disorders. Full article

Sexual dimorphism in morphological traits is widespread across animals and can result from differing life-history strategies, sex-specific competition, and ecological interactions influenced by habitat structure. For epifaunal organisms such as amphipods, habitat complexity mediates access to food, mate encounters, and refuge. This study investigates sex-related variation in body size and gnathopod 2 ratio (gnathopod 2 length/body length) in two amphipod species, Ampithoe ramondi and Caprella acanthifera, across four benthic habitats: rhodolith beds, macroalgae-dominated reefs, seagrass meadows, and black coral forests. A. ramondi occurred in all habitats except black coral forests, with males larger than females only in macroalgae-dominated reefs and exhibiting higher gnathopod ratios, increasing across macroalgae-dominated reefs, seagrass meadows and rhodolith beds. C. acanthifera was found in macroalgae-dominated reefs and black coral forests, with males larger on average but no significant habitat-related variation in dimorphism. These results indicate that sexual dimorphism patterns are species-specific, shaped by habitat-specific ecological pressures and life-history strategies. Expanding such analyses to more taxa and with balanced sampling across habitats and environmental gradients will offer deeper insight into how natural and sexual selection interact and inform how these dynamics may shift under changing climate regimes. Full article

Software Development (Dev) and Information Technology Operations (Ops) rely on different process parameters, such as robustness, resilience, and in-line optimizations. Resilience is a key requirement when adopting various enterprise features to ensure system stability and swift recovery from failures. Based on different enterprises’ adoption conditions, the need for resilience and its optimization is to be designed. In this article, a low-complexity, adoptable, and validated resilience model is proposed to improve the efficiency of the DevOps functional phase. This proposed model uses intrinsic deep lift features of the applications to assess its resilience. In this case, optimization is performed using trust, robustness, and resilience parameters, as per the application’s demand. A fine-to-coarse tuning strategy is applied to both individual and permuted parameters to improve the adaptability and scalability of the DevOps implementation. Considering parameter permutations, selective tuning is also feasible through deep lift learning to improve resilience with reduced complexity. This model is efficient in leveraging adoptability, achieving 12.43% for the plan and 13.17% for the feedback phases, for maximum execution time. Full article

Fishways play a critical role in restoring river connectivity and conserving fishery resources, yet their efficiency is often limited by mismatches between hydraulic conditions and species-specific behavioral traits. To quantify the upstream migration behavior of fish under the combined influence of flow heterogeneity and schooling effects, this study examined the endangered species L. elongata in the Yangtze River Basin. Volitional swimming behavior was tested in an open-channel flume under three spatially heterogeneous flow regimes (I: Low–Moderate–High; II: High–Moderate–Low; III: Moderate–High–Low). A video monitoring system recorded the upstream movement of solitary fish and three-individual schools. Swimming trajectories, upstream migration time, preferred flow velocities, and schooling metrics—including nearest neighbor distance (NND) and mean pairwise distance (MPD)—were analyzed. Linear mixed-effects models were employed to account for repeated measures and individual variability. Results showed that schooling behavior significantly enhanced upstream migration efficiency: schooling fish arrived at the target area on average 8.93 s earlier than solitary individuals (p < 0.01), while flow condition alone had no detectable effect on arrival time. L. elongata consistently preferred low-velocity zones (0.20–0.50 m/s) and avoided high-velocity regions (0.75–1.25 m/s), with meandering upstream trajectories predominating. NND showed no significant differences across flow conditions (p > 0.05), indicating stable schooling cohesion. However, MPD increased significantly under Flow III compared to Flows I and II (p < 0.01), suggesting that higher flow heterogeneity leads to more dispersed group spacing while overall cohesion is maintained. Distinct movement strategies were observed: solitary fish predominantly utilized boundary regions as hydraulic refuges (wall-following: 63.8–80.5%), whereas schools exhibited greater spatial exploration and reduced wall-following. These findings demonstrate that schooling enhances migration efficiency while preserving a cohesive group structure and that flow heterogeneity influences within-group spatial organization. To optimize fishway performance for L. elongata, we recommend maintaining flow velocities within 0.20–0.50 m/s. This study provides scientific guidance for hydraulic regulation in fishway design and habitat restoration, emphasizing the combined effects of flow heterogeneity and schooling behavior on migration performance. Full article

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) poses a serious threat to immunocompromised hosts, with limited therapeutic options highlighting the need for novel strategies. Coptis chinensis Franch. (CCF), a traditional Chinese herb containing antimicrobial alkaloids like berberine, was investigated for its therapeutic efficacy and immunological effects in a murine IPA model. Immunosuppressed female KM mice infected with Aspergillus fumigatus AF293 were treated with CCF or amphotericin B (AmB). CCF significantly improved survival, reduced fungal burden, and alleviated lung pathology, without inducing hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxicity. Transcriptomic profiling revealed a time-dependent immune response. Complement-related pathways were enriched at 2 days post-infection, whereas neutrophil recruitment and NET-related pathways became more prominent by day 4. Hub gene analysis identified Syk, Rac2, Ncf1, and Cybb as key nodes associated with the NADPH oxidase complex. Western blot and inhibitor experiments further supported the involvement of this pathway in CCF-mediated protection. Additionally, 16S rDNA sequencing indicated enrichment of Clostridium species in the gut microbiota of CCF-treated mice, which was positively correlated with the expression of NADPH oxidase-related genes, suggesting a potential gut–lung association. In conclusion, these findings support the antifungal efficacy of CCF in IPA and suggest that its protective effects may involve coordinated changes in complement-related responses, NADPH oxidase-associated neutrophil activity, and gut microbiota composition. Full article

The Sierra Madre Occidental (SMO) is a vital biological corridor in Mexico, yet its floristic knowledge remains fragmented. This study inventories and analyzes the vascular flora of Cerro Mohinora, the highest peak in Chihuahua and a protected area critical for mountain biodiversity. Through the collection of 1200 specimens, we identified 350 taxa across 205 genera and 76 families. Asteraceae (57 taxa) and Poaceae (32) are the most species-rich, with hemicryptophytes dominating the life forms (55.7%). The native flora exhibits a predominantly Nearctic affinity (56.6%), followed by Neotropical (37.2%). Notably, 33.7% of species are endemic to Mexico, including 11.4% to the SMO and 2.9% related to microendemics. Cerro Mohinora serves as the type locality for 18 species, including Salvia reginae, which was discovered during the fieldwork of this study and formally described in 2019. It should be noted that not all of these taxa were recorded in the present survey. Regarding conservation, eight species are listed nationally and 54 internationally. Low exotic species representation (2.6%) contrasts with the vulnerability of the endemic flora. Our findings characterize Cerro Mohinora as a critical boreal refuge and an active evolutionary center, underscoring the need to strengthen conservation frameworks and management strategies to mitigate climate change impacts. Full article

The diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) is a devastating global pest of cruciferous crops. This study explores the potential of targeting the vacuolar ATPase subunit E (PxvATPaseE) for its control. We demonstrate that PxvATPaseE is essential for larval development, showing high expression levels in the midgut. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated silencing of PxvATPaseE resulted in severe growth retardation and dose-dependent mortality, with higher dsRNA doses inducing more sustained effects. Furthermore, computational virtual screening of natural compound libraries identified a high-affinity binder of PxvATPaseE, such as periplocoside D. Our results demonstrate that PxvATPaseE is a promising molecular target for controlling P. xylostella, supporting a dual-strategy approach combining RNAi and targeted chemical inhibition for future pest management solutions. Full article